Golf: Rory ready for Augusta despite lack of action

Rory McIlroy would like to have played more tournament golf ahead of the Masters, but is confident he will arrive at Augusta fully prepared to challenge for a first green jacket.

Having been sidelined for several weeks with a fractured rib earlier in the year, McIlroy was hoping to get plenty of action under his belt at this week's WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play - only his fourth tournament of 2017.

However, an opening-day defeat to Soren Kjeldsen, coupled with Gary Woodland's subsequent withdrawal guaranteeing the Dane a second win, ended McIlroy's hopes of making the last 16.

In an interview with Sky Sports, McIlroy said: "It would've been nice to play a little more competitive golf going in to Augusta, but every time I've teed it up since I've the injury I've felt like I've played pretty well.

"I've felt fresh and I've felt healthy, so hopefully that freshness can carry through and help me at Augusta.

"Match play is a funny thing. If you get it going I think it's really good for build-up for Augusta, but if you're going home before the weekend then it's maybe not so great.

"I'm going to go up to Augusta Monday, Tuesday next week and play a couple of practice rounds. I've already been up there once this year, so I think the more times I can go up to Augusta and just get comfortable with the place the better.

"There's no set way to do it. As much as everyone says they want to peak for Augusta, everyone out here is doing a different thing every year.

"It's a very fluid process and this year it has been a bit of a different build-up for me because I haven't played that much, but maybe that'll be in my favour."

The Masters, which begins on April 6, is the only major McIlroy has yet to win. He famously shot 80 in the final round six years ago, having begun Sunday leading by four strokes.